4. Microsoft's online woes hint at larger vulnerability and Microsoft exec leaving to become Juniper CEO: Microsoft reorganized the division that oversees its Online Services Business and Windows OS, splitting Platform and Services to separate the distinct product lines. The move could well signal that the company is no longer content to be a follower when it comes to online services and that it is ramping up its competitive approach to Google in particular. The same day Juniper Networks said that Kevin Johnson, head of Microsoft's online operations, would become its new CEO.

5. 'Last Lecture' computer-science professor Randy Pausch dies: Randy Pausch, 47, the inspiring computer-science professor, died of pancreatic cancer in Chesapeake, Virginia. The Carnegie Mellon computer-science professor was well-known in academic circles long before he gave the talk called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" to students at the university in September 2007, shortly after doctors told him he had only months to live. The inspirational talk -- by turns humorous and sad -- remains a YouTube sensation and will continue to serve as testament to Pausch's spirit.

6. Microsoft gives Apache cash to promote open source: Microsoft, for the first time, is giving money to the Apache Software Foundation to support that open-source project. The company is also giving code to the PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) project and will offer royalty-free specs for Windows Server and .NET Framework protocols.

7. Yahoo settles with Icahn on board members: Yahoo reached an agreement with investor Carl Icahn, who owns not quite 5 percent of company shares, to end a proxy fight in which Icahn was trying to wrest control of the board and push for the company or its search business to be sold to Microsoft. Under the deal, the board of directors will be expanded, with Icahn becoming a member along with two people from a slate he had proposed. Icahn continues to insist that selling the company or its search business is a good idea, and as part of the agreement that possibility, along with strategy for following through, will be discussed by the full board.

8. AOL to shut down XDrive, other services: AOL is getting rid of a number of online services that have failed to become popular among users, including hosted storage, photo, music and video sharing, as well as photo management. The Time Warner division is having a rough go of transitioning from a subscription-fee business model to one that survives on advertising revenue. According to recent published reports, Microsoft has talked to Time Warner executives about the possibility of buying AOL.